“And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee. Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.” — Exodus 23:31-33

“And when the L-rd thy G-d shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them.” — Deuteronomy 7:2

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Even as someone who is not a biblical scholar, I know that a “peace” “deal” with Gaza-Philistia is not a homerun for Jews who seek Divine favor. To the contrary, it is forbidden no matter how glitzy, enticing, and spectacular it appears.

To some Israelis, these Divine warnings are understood now. As they rejoice in our hostages returning home, they comprehend a reality descending upon the world,

ZAKA TEL-AVIV:

The new deal that secured the hostages’ freedom also raises deep concerns. Hundreds of dangerous terrorists convicted of brutal attacks on Israeli civilians have been released. Many fear this may echo the tragic aftermath of the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal, when freed terrorists returned to orchestrate new atrocities, culminating in the horrors of October 7. Israel faces the grim reality that Hamas may remain intact, rearming and regrouping under the protection of a fragile ceasefire. The core issues have been deferred, leaving the future uncertain and the threat of renewed terror ever-present.

In these volatile moments, Zaka Tel-Aviv stands ready, prepared for any emergency, any tragedy, at any hour. Our volunteers continue to train, equip, and respond with unwavering dedication, ensuring that when disaster strikes, every life is treated with dignity and every victim with compassion. Whether in the aftermath of terror, tragedy, or natural disaster, Zaka’s teams bring order, care, and sacred respect to the most painful moments of our nation’s story.

Although the “big deal” mandates the return of all hostages, living and not living, dozens of dead Jews have not been returned to their families longing to give their loved ones a proper Jewish burial in the Holy Land for which they gave their sacred lives. In fact, without their bodies returned to Israel, how do their families even know their beloved children, spouses, or relatives are no longer living? The bodies are proof of death that their suffering is no more.

My Dad, Al Katz, never knew for 60 years that his older sister had given birth to a healthy baby girl, Bianca Louise, in Westerbork concentration camp, was transported at one month old to Sobibor death camp, and gassed to death with her young parents upon arrival. There are no bodies, only meticulous record-keeping by Nazis that gave our family the untold story of a life and death to cherish and mourn, which is the foundation for the K-12 Holocaust education book series, Bianca’s Story: Holocaust Babies that inspires students to create beautiful projects.

As we rejoice in the family reunions with our precious hostages released, let us hold fast to Divine warnings and teach our youths by example and by Bible:

Deuteronomy 25:17–19: “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear G-d. Therefore when the L-RD your G-d has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the L-RD your G-d is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.

©2025 Beverly Newman, Ed. D. All rights reserved.